Meridian · Enterprise Product / UX

Making a connected fleet legible at a glance.

A connected operations portal, redesigned so field teams could read machine health, telemetry status, and spare-parts readiness for a single unit at a glance, then order parts and act before a shortage or fault stopped the line.

Role
Senior UX Designer
Duration
Multi-phase, iterative
Platform
Fleet operations portal, white-labeled
Users
Operations managers, field techs, dispatch, suppliers

Machine-level telemetry and spare parts · Connected field equipment fleet · Industrial field operations environment

Machine Health
2 issues
U-01Ready Stable
U-02Running Stable
U-03Ready Stable
U-04Temp Warning Slight
Parts
3 low
Drive Belt KitGood256 cycles
Hydraulic Filter SetLow48 cycles
Calibration Sensor KitCritical40 cycles
62%Parts Remaining
The result

Machine health and spare stock now read as clear signals, so operations teams service a unit before it fails or a part runs out, not after.

My roleI led the UX for machine health and parts, from field research through the shipped portal patterns.

01 · Executive summary

Turning system state into confidence.

Operations teams rely on connected field machines with strict uptime requirements, yet users lacked clear visibility into machine health, telemetry, and spare-parts readiness. I led the design of a machine-centered experience that unified telemetry, parts, and service context, enabling teams to anticipate issues, reduce downtime, and act before problems escalated.

02 · The problem

Machine downtime is operational failure.

For a field operation, a machine that cannot run stops the work entirely. Users needed to answer time-critical questions quickly, but the answers were scattered and hard to interpret.

Questions users had to answer
  • Is my machine healthy right now?
  • Are there active issues I need to address?
  • Do I have enough spare parts to keep running?
  • What is running low or expiring soon?
  • When should I order parts or dispatch a tech?
Instead, information was
  • Fragmented across tools and teams
  • Buried in technical logs and service reports
  • Reactive rather than preventative
  • Difficult to interpret for non-expert users
Which resulted in
  • Unplanned downtime
  • Last-minute parts orders
  • Increased service calls
  • Stress and uncertainty for field staff

Constraints

  • Safety-critical field operations environment
  • Limited ability to expose raw telemetry data
  • Hardware-driven system states and dependencies
  • Global variability in site workflows
  • Mixed audiences, both technical and non-technical users
  • Contractual requirements around data accuracy and traceability
The challenge was to surface meaningful insight without overwhelming or misrepresenting system state.
03 · My role

Owning UX for machine-focused experiences.

I owned UX across machine-focused experiences, including:

  • Machine overview and navigation
  • Telemetry visibility and status modeling
  • Parts and spares tracking
  • Service agreement and maintenance context
  • Cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, Service, and Product
  • Iterative validation through usability testing

The through line: turning complex system signals into actionable understanding.

04 · Research and insights

What operations teams actually needed.

Research methods
  • Interviews with field techs and operations managers
  • Shadowing service workflows
  • Review of telemetry logs and service reports
  • Usability testing on machine-health concepts
The core tension

Users were rarely missing data. They were missing clear signals about severity, timing, and context, which made it hard to decide what needed action versus monitoring.

Key insights

01

Users don't want raw telemetry. They want meaning.

02

Healthy vs. at risk matters more than exact metrics.

03

Stock anxiety is driven by uncertainty, not absolute quantity.

04

Preventative cues beat reactive alerts.

05

Machine context is the natural organizing model.

05 · From user signals to design direction

Clustering the real signals.

To move beyond surface-level usability issues, I synthesized qualitative interview data and contextual observations into patterns that explained why users hesitated, over-ordered, or escalated prematurely. The goal was not to catalog pain points, but to identify the signals users relied on, or lacked, when making time-sensitive decisions.

I see this fault code but I don't know if the machine is down or just warning me.
I'm never sure if I should dispatch a tech or if I can handle it myself.
By the time I notice we're low on spare parts, it's usually urgent.
I check each machine individually because I can't get a clear status overview.
I need context about what this alert means for my specific machine.
When I look at the dashboard I can't tell what needs my attention right now.
I wish I knew how many cycles of service I actually have left.
The system tells me quantities but not whether that's enough for my workload.
I don't want to over-order, but I'm terrified of running out mid-shift.
I don't know if this telemetry alert is urgent or informational.
Parts tracking feels reactive instead of predictive.
I need to know: can this machine run right now or not?
I spend time investigating things that turn out to be non-issues.
I want to catch problems before they cause downtime.
The logs are full of jargon I don't understand without calling service.
I'm managing six machines and I can't track all the details.

Raw user statements captured during moderated usability sessions and interviews, clustered across operations managers, field techs, dispatch, and suppliers. Confusion stemmed less from missing data and more from unclear severity, timing, and context.

06 · Decision framework

From user signals to operational design decisions.

To ensure the telemetry and parts experiences addressed real operational risk, not just system completeness, I mapped recurring user signals to the downstream behaviors and consequences they triggered. This framework helped prioritize which signals required clarity, guidance, or escalation versus those that could remain informational.

User signalOperational riskDesign response
1I don't know if this alert is urgent or informational.Delayed or incorrect action; users may ignore critical alerts or overreact to informational ones.Severity indicators with plain-language labels ("Action Required", "Monitor", "Informational") and prioritization by operational impact.
2Parts tracking feels reactive instead of predictive.Over-ordering, wasted stock, or mid-shift shortages due to a lack of forward visibility.Cycles-to-service projections and usage-based forecasting instead of raw quantity counts.
3I check each machine individually because I can't get a clear overview.Missed issues across multiple machines and inefficient monitoring workflows.Machine-level dashboards with aggregated status views and contextual drill-down capability.
4I'm not sure if I should dispatch a tech or handle this myself.Increased dispatch load from unnecessary calls, or unresolved issues from user hesitation.Contextual guidance and recommended next actions embedded within alerts, tailored by severity and user role ("Dispatch Tech", "Monitor", "No Action Needed").
5The logs are full of jargon I don't understand without calling service.Dependency on support for routine telemetry; delayed troubleshooting.Human-readable telemetry summaries, with technical logs available on demand.
6I want to catch problems before they cause downtime.Reactive incident response leading to unexpected shutdowns and operational disruption.Preventative alerts and early-warning indicators that surface issues before they become critical.
7By the time I notice we're low on spare parts, it's usually urgent.Emergency ordering, expedited shipping costs, or workflow interruptions.Proactive parts notifications triggered by usage patterns and lead-time thresholds.
8I spend time investigating things that turn out to be non-issues.Wasted time and alert fatigue, leading to desensitization to real problems.Reduced noise through intelligent filtering and a clear distinction between informational and actionable alerts.
9I need to know what matters right now across all my machines.Cognitive overload leading to missed critical issues or delayed intervention.Progressive disclosure and prioritization across dashboards, alerts, and parts to surface the most operationally impactful signals first.

Decision framework: common user signals mapped to operational risk and corresponding design responses to reduce downtime, alert fatigue, and unnecessary dispatch escalation across machine and parts workflows.

07 · Design strategy

Telemetry as signals, not data.

Rather than exposing telemetry as data, I designed it as signals.

Principles

01
Organize around the machine

Everything a user needs is framed by the specific machine in front of them, not a system-wide list.

02
Translate states into status

Technical states become clear, plain-language status that any user can read and trust.

03
Prioritize risk and urgency

Surface what is operationally important first, over exhaustive completeness.

04
Progressive disclosure

Headline status up front, deeper technical detail on demand for those who need it.

05
One connected system

Telemetry, parts, and service live in a single context instead of separate tools.

Below are the interface decisions that addressed these core operational needs.

08 · Key solutions

Clarity for a complex machine.

01

Unit-centered overview

Goal: give users instant confidence, or instant concern. Each machine view surfaced system status at a glance, open alerts and service agreements, firmware version and key details, and direct entry points into telemetry and parts, so users never had to assemble the picture from separate tools.

Result Users could assess machine health in seconds.

Home / Fleet
M-Series Field Fleet
Serial Number
A12-94751
Service AgreementActive
Open Alerts0
Location
North Yard Operations
2200 Terminal Way
Reno, NV 89502, USA
System Details
6-unit connected fleet with automated telemetry and remote job scheduling across field sites.
Software Version
Fleet OS 4.2
Overview
Fleet Ready

Readiness summary for this fleet. 6 units reporting.

14
Units ready
2
Need attention
0
Open alerts
Job typesHaul, lift, compaction
Last maintenanceJul 18, 2026
WarrantyIn coverage
02

Machine health made legible

Goal: let any user read unit health without decoding jargon. Per-unit rows pair a plain-language status pill (Ready, Running, Low Stock, Temp Warning, Fault Detected) with activity, cycles remaining, and temperature, and a banner counts the active issues that actually need attention. Expanding a unit reveals the recommended action and a guided fix, with full logs available on demand.

Result Severity and next step became readable at a glance, not buried in logs.

Machine Health
Expand all details Filters
UnitStatusActivityCycles LeftTemp
U-01ReadyIdle22 Stable+
Last self-test: PassedFirmware: FW 4.2.1Detail: Nominal across all sensors.
U-02RunningRunning Job12 Stable+
Last self-test: PassedFirmware: FW 4.2.1Detail: Haul cycle in progress.
U-03ReadyIdle25 Stable+
Last self-test: PassedFirmware: FW 4.2.1Detail: Nominal across all sensors.
U-04Low StockCompleted3 Stable+
Last self-test: PassedFirmware: FW 4.2.1Detail: Spare part below reorder threshold.
U-05Temp WarningIdle8 Slight+
Last self-test: FlaggedFirmware: FW 4.2.1Detail: Hydraulic temp 1.4 degrees above target.
U-06Fault DetectedError0 (Blocked) High+
Last self-test: FlaggedFirmware: FW 4.2.1Detail: Drive fault, unit locked pending service.
1-6 of 16
03

Proactive parts awareness

Goal: reduce last-minute disruptions. Stock was expressed in cycles to service rather than raw units, with visual indicators for good, low, and critical, expiration awareness, and recommended order quantities based on usage trends. A banner flags parts running low or expiring soon so teams plan proactively instead of reacting.

Result Teams could plan proactively instead of reacting.

Home / Fleet
M-Series Field Fleet
Serial Number
A12-94751
Service AgreementActive
Open Alerts0
Location
North Yard Operations
2200 Terminal Way
Reno, NV 89502, USA
System Details
6-unit connected fleet with automated telemetry and remote job scheduling across field sites.
Software Version
Fleet OS 4.2
Parts
Expand all details Filters

Parts status for this machine only. See fleet parts

ProductStock RemainingAction
Drive Belt Kit - 24 Pack
DBK-24
Good 256 cycles Jan 4Order parts+
Hydraulic Filter Set - 24 Pack
HFS-24
Low 48 cycles Dec 14Order parts+
Calibration Sensor Kit
CSK-10
Critical 40 cyclesReplace+
Coolant Fluid
CLF-500
Good 120 cycles Mar 2026Auto Pay +
Bearing Grease - 50 mL
BRG-50
Low 150 cyclesReplace+
Air Filter, Sealed
AFS-F
Good >1 mo stock+
1-6 of 9
04

Integrated parts order and dispatch

Goal: close the loop between knowing and acting. Expanding a low item revealed lot number, storage, current unit locations, daily usage, projected depletion, and supplier, alongside a circular stock gauge and a usage-based recommended order quantity. Order parts, replace, and auto-pay lived beside the signal, so acting never meant leaving the machine context.

Result Ordering and dispatch happened in context, without a separate procurement tool.

Parts
Expand all details Filters
Drive Belt Kit - 24 Pack
DBK-24
Good 256 cycles Jan 4Order parts+
Hydraulic Filter Set - 24 Pack
Low 48 cycles Dec 14 Order parts
Lot #:
HFS-2051-88-04
Storage:
Dry, indoor rack
Current Locations:
Units U-03, U-04, U-07
Daily Usage:
~4 cycles/day (last 2 weeks)
Projected depletion:
Dec 14, 2025
Supplier:
Grainger / In-network
62%Parts Remaining
Hydraulic Filter Set - 24 Pack
HFS-24 In Stock
Unit Price
$622.00
Total USD
$2,488.00
Recommended Order
12 units
Based on usage trends
Adjust Quantity
12
09 · Outcomes

Measured in downtime avoided, not speed.

Because this work focused on preventative visibility rather than workflow efficiency, results were measured in reduced downtime and avoided escalations rather than raw speed.

  • Unplanned machine downtime decreased by approximately 12 to 18% through earlier visibility into machine health and spare-parts risk.
  • Emergency parts orders and rush shipments declined by approximately 14 to 22%, as users could anticipate stock needs before hitting critical thresholds.
  • Successful early identification of potential system issues increased by approximately 25 to 30%, driven by clearer prioritization of telemetry signals.
  • User confidence in understanding machine health improved by approximately 18 to 22% in usability testing and follow-up surveys.
  • Dispatches triggered by uncertainty or misinterpretation of telemetry decreased by approximately 10 to 15% following rollout.
  • Proactive alerting and parts forecasting cut unplanned intervention costs by roughly 12 to 18% as operators spent less time in reactive troubleshooting.

Representative, anonymized outcomes based on usability testing, platform usage trends, and internal service data.

10 · Why this mattered

Reliability is non-negotiable.

In field operations, a machine that cannot be trusted stops real work. By translating complex telemetry and parts data into clear, preventative signals, this work helped teams maintain operational continuity, reduce stress, and operate more predictably, without exposing sensitive system internals or compromising contractual requirements.

Complex technical data, translated into trustworthy, actionable signals that let people act with confidence in critical environments.
11 · What I would do next

From reactive to predictive.

  • Predictive failure indicators based on telemetry trends
  • Cross-machine health dashboards
  • Automated parts-order suggestions tied to run volume
  • Deeper integration with service scheduling
  • Validating predictive indicators against real usage data to further reduce reactive workloads

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